Syzygium suborbiculare or Red Bush Apple in English, Bemburrtyak In Malak Malak, Gorokkorokkin in Waigaman, Mindilima in Larrakia, Migemininy in Nauiya and Jaruk in Jawoyn and I am sure it has many more names…

 So this awesome coloured fruit is right now in our beautiful bush- to be more specific in open woodland, this fruit comes from a pretty plant that is in the mid layer and starts of with shiny oval leaves and red petioles. It only fruits at this time of year, but is found across the whole of northern Australia and will catch your eye if you are in the bush, either on the ground or hanging on the tree. It’s a splash of colour amongst the fresh new green growth that is making the rather humidly warm but wonderful woodland landscape look delicious right now. And like many common English names for bush tucker “Bush Apple” makes a comparison to a temperate fruit- but is in the Myrtaceae family, like all our Eucalypts, Paperbarks etc.  Syzygium genus are a whole bunch of plants often called ‘Lilly Pilly’ and are found all over Australia and Asia and have edible fruit. It only vaguely resembles red of some apple varieties and there the similarity ends. (For your information the cooler loving apple is in the Rosaceae family!)

 Here are some geeky technical details, that I love to add-

Syzygium suborbiculare Medium tree to 12 m with slightly rough grey-brown bark. The dark glossy green leaves are leathery and oval to circular with a pointed tip. Flowers are large and white with numerous stamens, found in dense terminal clusters. Fruit are fleshy, round with distinct ribs and a persistent calyx, and contain one large seed.

 As the fruit is from a small tree, you can pick it from the branches and eat it straight away- the seed is large and only a few mils of flesh is on the outside, which has a fluffy texture on the inner side and a crunchy texture on the outer side with ha tangy flavour, not too unlike a rosella, maybe with a hint of bitterness. Apparently there is a pink variation on Tiwi which is sweeter.

Anyway here are some of these handsome fruits that I arranged nicely.

I am sure they would make good jams if you were into it, but I added mine into a seasonal mango salad, as advised by Lozza in Nhulunbuy, with some additional cucumber, mint, and a squeeze of lime juice- try and get a firm mango – the one pictured was quite ripe. Mango happens to be in season at the same time- so a good time to try them together!

So get out there are try them out if you haven’t or try to put them with something new!